It's finally here: The Flash premieres at 8 p.m. EDT Oct. 7 on The CW, and with the debut of the Scarlet Speedster is sure to come some genuine superheroics the likes of which viewers have yet to see on television.
Like his comic book counterpart, in the show Barry Allen will be a police scientist who is granted the ability to run at superhuman speeds after an accident involving a lightning bolt and superhero science. Over the course of the season Allen will discover he isn't the only superhuman in town, and he vows to use his powers for good while trying to learn the truth about his mother's murder and prove his father's innocence in the matter.
Time travel and alternate universes are staples of Flash story lines, and the show is sure to incorporate some familiar villains, characters and themes even as it tells new stories with Allen. That makes now the perfect time to read up on some of the Flash's most iconic stories over the years. From saving the universe to completely resetting it, here are some of the best examples of what Flash as a character has to offer.
Showcase #4 (1956)
By Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert
The Flash technically debuted in 1940, but it is be the more "modern" Silver Age incarnation of the hero, Barry Allen, who is still a fan favorite today. His origin story here is similar to the one that will be featured in the show: Allen is a police scientist who is accidentally splashed with lightning-infused chemicals, granting him super speed. After appearing in several more issues of showcase, The Flash was deemed popular enough to support his own series. Thus the Scarlet Speedster as we know him was born, and he has been a mainstay of DC Comics ever since.
The Flash Vol. 1 #123: The Flash of Two Worlds (1962)
By Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella
Remember that original Flash we were just talking about? Barry Allen totally meets him in a story that basically invented the idea of DC Comics being a multiverse, marking the first time heroes of the Golden Age and Silver Age came together. It would set off the trend of superhero crossover stories to come, and just like the cover says, this issue of Flash became an instant classic.
The Flash Vol. 1 #275-284: The Death of Iris Allen (1979-1980)
By Cary Bates, Alex Saviuk and Don Heck
The death of Barry's wife, Iris, came as a shock to readers in the late '70s. How can the fastest man alive fail to save the woman he loved? Nonetheless, that is exactly what happened. Barry and Iris attend a costume party in this issue, but an escaped murderer is also in attendance. As Iris goes to get a glass of water for a nauseous Barry, a scream rings out. Barry runs to the rescue only to find the criminal Clive Yorkin standing over the body of his wife. It is later revealed that the Reverse-Flash was really the one responsible for the murder, and would lead Barry down a dark road later in life, eventually leading to him murdering Reverse-Flash to save the life of his second wife on their wedding day.
Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 (1985)
By Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Jerry Ordway
When it comes to major event comics, it doesn't get any bigger, or more revolutionary, than Crisis on Infinite Earths. Designed as a way to clean up DC continuity, the series saw the heroes of multiple universes uniting to stop the evil Anti-Monitor from destroying all of existence. Allen heroically gives his life to stop one of the Anti-Monitor's schemes, saving the DC universe as we know it and cementing his place in comic book history as one of the most selfless heroes ever created. The repercussions of his death would be felt for decades, and would lead to his nephew, Wally West, to take over as the new Flash for years to come.
The Flash Vol. 2 #74-79: The Return of Barry Allen (1993)
By Mark Waid and Greg La Rocque
Unlike many comic book heroes, Barry Allen, upon his death, actually stayed that way for a relatively long time. His death in Crisis on Infinite Earths still carried profound meaning almost 10 years later in 1993, so when fans learned of a new storyline teasing Allen's return, something was up. He magically returns one day without any memory of what happened. His friends and family come to learn this isn't the same noble hero who sacrificed himself to save the universe but instead is actually a super-villain hoax. Even if Allen isn't truly a part of this story, his presence is felt everywhere, and just goes to show how important Allen's Flash legacy was to the DC universe.
The Flash Vol. 2 #218-225: Rogue War (2005)
Sure, Rogue War doesn't technically star Allen either, but there is no greater Flash storyline when it comes down to showing off Flash's great roster of villains, collectively called the Rogues. Featuring iconic criminals like Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master and led by Captain Cold, this storyline has the classic Flash villains battling it out with the new rogues on the block, and Wally West getting caught in the crossfire.
The Flash: Rebirth (2009)
By Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver
Barry Allen finally does come back to life in 2008 after being dead for more than 20 years. It was, as they say, kind of a big deal. For years fans had come to accept Wally West as the new Flash, but with Allen's return, questions arose as to who would continue serving the world as the Scarlet Speedster. Of course, Allen's return is all a maniacal plot by the evil Reverse-Flash to destroy all the speedsters of the world, and together Allen and West team up to stop him.
Flashpoint (2011)
By Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert
In many ways Flashpoint serves a similar purpose to that of Crisis on Infinite Earths, and once again Flash is at the center of it. Paving the way for the New 52 relaunch of DC Comics, Flashpoint saw the Flash transported to an alternate reality created by Reverse-Flash where Thomas, not Bruce, Wayne stalked the streets as Batman and Aquaman battled Wonder Woman for control of Europe. In an effort to stop Reverse-Flash and undo the millions of lives lost in the war between the Amazon and King of Atlantis, Flash travels back in time and resets the entire DC Universe, merging three multiverses into one. Flash is cool like that.
